Did you know this drawish line after 1.e4? "The Russian Defense in Russia"

Today, I was playing for a Team Chess Competition where my friends and I got the 3rd place. I found myself up against Russian players who employed the "Russian Defense", (also known as Petrov's Defense). It was quite amusing to face this distinct opening in the home country of its origin while competing against fellow Russian players. Nonetheless, I'm excited to share some valuable advice and insights from the opening phase of my games with you.

At first glance, everything may appear straightforward. When I was playing, I failed to notice those lines and instead went with the most common option.

As a child, I was warned that playing 3...Nxe4 was a terrible move. However, I have come to realize the importance of exploring the sidelines to gain a deeper understanding of the game. With that in mind, I have high hopes that employing the strategy of 8.Nc3 and 10.Nb5 will lead us to future victories))!!